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Thursday, March 02, 2006

PORN: The San Fernando Valley's OTHER Film Business

The reasons why the fledgling film industry relocated from the east coast to Los Angeles are fairly well known (better year-round weather and quick access to a variety of locations such as the ocean... snowy mountains... and the high desert). Filmakers were also keen on not paying royalties to inventor Thomas Edison (who held several patents on their movie-making gear).

Interesting side-note: In the 1920's, Harry Culver (founder of Culver City) enticed the owners of MGM to establish their studio in his growing town. He made them an offer of free land. Lots of it. It was an offer that couldn't be refused.

Flash forward some forty years...

A cash-strapped MGM of the early 1970's no longer needed all that real estate. Lighter, more portable camera gear also makes location shooting a cost effective way of doing production (no more backlots!). The studio ownership decides to sell all of their land and move headquarters to New York.

Hollywood Thoughts recommends taking a drive around Culver City to see for yourself how large MGM was in its heyday-- six lots that comprised almost two hundred acres. It was a city-within-a-city that boasted its own fire and police departments. Backlot #2 is now a housing tract with streets named after old movie stars (this is the spot where the Andy Hardy Movies were shot. It's also where Gene Kelly danced and sang in the rain). Mrs. Miniver, National Velvet and Gigi were also filmed here. How about the apartment building named after "Sherwood Forrest"? Yep. The lake in the middle of the complex is where fellows atop their four-legged mounts were committed to celluloid. Today's Raintree Shopping Center was the former home of the Ben Hur stables.

I digress.

When MGM announced their impending departure to the colder climes of New York, Culver City politicians reminded them to check the fine print of old Harry's original land grant. The ownership of lot #1 -- the largest parcel by a wide margin -- would revert to Culver City as soon as film production ceased on the property. In other words, the land wasn't MGM's to sell. Moving to New York no longer made sense from a financial perspective. MGM would remain a part of Hollywood.

It's clear to see how the movie business became established in Los Angeles... but how did the OTHER film biz come to be? How did Porn become a homegrown export?

One logical explanation is that a large talent pool from the mainstream industry falls into part-time jobs in the "adult" business between 'regular' assignments. A darker view contends that enterprising businessmen lured down-on-their-luck wannabe actresses with paychecks for 'adult' performances.

In any event, the adult film industry continues to thrive in the San Fernando Valley. Why the Valley? Simple: Cheaper real estate. Lower overhead.

While the major studios worry that box office receipts continue to decline each year (down 8% from last year), the business of porn logs greater revenue on a yearly basis. Thanks to video and the internet, consumers can view or purchase porn from anywhere a wireless laptop will allow. Sex has always been a discreet affair... and now, in the digital age, that extends to its commerce.

How easy is it to become the new Louis B. Mayer of porn? The next Larry Flynt? Very.

Take a look at Matt's Models. Matt (we don't know his last name) has a website. And a camera... and a modest home somewhere near Universal Studios.

If you're a decent looking female, Matt will give you a few bucks... IF you're willing to remove your clothes. Then he'll invite web-surfers to pay a small amount to subscribe to his site to view his handiwork with his digital camera (you can see some of this if you Click here. It's a smart business plan. Virtually no overhead, and nothing but profits. Matt's as much a pioneer in the business of filmaking as Culver, Loew, Laemmle or Mayer. When you think about it, one man and his camera isn't too far removed from the modest beginnings of the (future) movie moguls and their Times Square nickelodeons.

As old as the industry is, it's continuing evolution continues to impress. With or without clothing.

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